Name
Class
Date
Activity: Constructing and Interpreting a Contour Map
Background Information: The shape of the land can be shown on a map by using lines that
connect points that have the same elevation. These lines are called contour lines. A map that
uses contour lines to represent the features (mountains, plains, depressions, and valleys) is called
a contour map or topographic map.
Objective: To draw and interpret a contour map that represents a model of Mt. Capulin which is
a volcanic mountain in New Mexico, USA.
Procedure: You will use a plastic box that has a molded impression of Mt. Capulin inside. Note
that the side of the box has a scale marked off in centimeter increments.
Part 1:
1. Fill the box with water up to the first centimeter marking.
2. Place the plastic lid on the box.
3. Looking straight down at the model, use a china marker pencil to trace the “shoreline”
onto the lid of the box.
a. Note: if you are having trouble seeing the shoreline you may remove the lid and
trace the “shoreline” directly onto the model with the china marker, then replace
the lid and do step 3 – this will make the “shoreline” more visible through the lid.
4. Remove the lid.
5. Fill the box with water up to the next ½ centimeter marking.
6. Place the lid on the box and use the china marker pencil to trace the new “shoreline” onto
the lid.
7. Repeat steps 4, 5, and 6 for every ½ centimeter marking until the volcano is completely
under water.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Part 2:
Remove the lid from the box. Note that it has a number of contour lines that you have
drawn.
Place a piece of blank white paper on top of the lid.
Using two small pieces of tape, tape the blank paper to the lid so it is secured in place.
Place a second piece of white paper under the lid. The lines that you have drawn on the
lid should now be visible through the paper taped on top.
Using a pencil, trace the contour lines onto the white paper taped to the lid.
Label the elevation of each contour line.
a. Start by labeling the first line “0 meters”. This will represent sea level.
b. Label each of the other contour lines using a vertical scale of one centimeter equals
100 meters. On your map the change in elevation from one contour line to the next
will be 100 meters.
c. Your teacher will show you how to label the crater at the top of the mountain with a
hachured contour line.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Part 3:
Position the model so that the mountain is on the left hand side of the box.
Remove your paper from the plastic lid. Position your paper with the traced contour lines
next to the box so that it matches the model.
On the white paper with the drawn contour lines, draw a straight line across the entire
mountain from left to right.
Write the word “crater” in the middle of the depression at the top of the mountain.
Look at the mountain and decide if it is steeper on the left side or the right side of the
crater.
a. On the line you drew through the mountain, write the word “steeper” on the side
that has the steeper slope.
b. Look at the contour lines of the map you drew on the paper. Decide where the lines
are spaced the farthest apart.
c. On the line you drew through the mountain write “biggest spacing” where the
contour lines are spaced farthest apart.
Find the valley that is on the model and match it to the contour lines on the map.
a. Using a colored pencil draw a line on the map that shows the location of the valley.
b. Label the end of the line nearest the crater with the letter “X”.
c. Label the end of the line nearest the shoreline (0 meter contour line, sea level) with
the letter “Y”.
Using a paper towel, remove the contour lines from the lid (and the model if you also drew
those).
Questions: Answer the questions below using complete sentences.
1. What do contour lines show?
2. What was the contour interval used on the map you drew?
3. What side of the mountain (left hand or right hand) had the steeper slope?
4. What side of the mountain (left hand or right hand) had the contour lines spaced farthest
apart?
5. How does the spacing of contour lines indicate areas of steep or gentle slope?
6. How must contour lines bend on a topographic map to show a valley?
7. Which letter on the line in the valley is at the higher elevation?
8. According to your contour map, towards which letter would a river in the valley flow?
9. How can you determine the direction a stream flows by using contour lines on a
topographic map?
Conclusion/Summary: Write a three paragraph summary using our standard format (first
paragraph is what you were doing and why; second paragraph what you found out – be sure to
discuss what data is needed to construct a contour map of a region of the Earths surface; and
third paragraph what you learned and how this relates to life).